CHANGE Program

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The Sherwood Park PCN has implemented an evidence-based program to help patients manage their chronic condition, focusing on regular healthy eating and physical activity. The CHANGE program requires a patient to commit for 1 year.

All referred patients with a chronic condition (pre-diabetes/diabetes, excess weight, hypertension, and dyslipidemia), are required to attend an information session at the PCN prior to registration in the CHANGE Program. The information session will outline the CHANGE program in more detail, and present other options (PCN and AHS classes) for people who cannot commit to the CHANGE program.

The CHANGE Program summary:

Weekly 2-hour healthy eating and physical activity sessions for the first 3 months.

Monthly 2-hour healthy eating and physical activity sessions for the last 9 months.

Each participant will have 3 assessments throughout the year. The first at the beginning of the program (baseline), at 3 months and at 12 months. Physical fitness, nutrition, blood pressure and blood work will be part of the assessment.

The program has 3 start times each year. Participants may enter the CHANGE program in January, May or September.

Goal setting will be patient focused, and will be incorporated into the regular weekly and monthly sessions.

Physicians will receive a letter after each assessment session.

Participants will be discharged from the program after the 12-month assessment.

Patients will be discharged from the program after two missed sessions with no prior notification of cancelation. Notification of the discharge from the CHANGE program will be sent to the family physician.